With Iran still advancing its nuclear program, the Israeli government tested its ballistic missile interceptor, the Arrow 2. The recent test coupled the rocket with a new radar system and should successfully intercept an Iranian missile, according to the military after testing the system with a dummy missile fired from an Israeli aircraft.
Another group of U.S. officials traveled to the Gaza Strip to examine reconstruction efforts following the recent Gaza operation. In an act of bipartisanship, Reps. Bob Ingliss and Stephen Lynch visited various relief efforts, with Lynch declaring the situation a “humanitarian emergency.”
A group of Israeli trauma experts will travel to Italy to assist in recovery and treatment efforts following the recent devastating earthquake. The Italian government and the new Israeli government solidified the terms of the assistance.
A recent Haaretz op-ed explains the alleged human rights violations in the latest Gaza operation. The author notes that these types of violations occur with every army and that Israel itself committed similar atrocities in the past. Meanwhile, a new Elliot Abrams op-ed in the Washington Post attempts to legitimize settlement expansion.